A Very Good Girl Talk Ft. Bryony Deery & Lauryn Bosstick

The Bossticks

Lauren Bosstick interviews guest Bryony Deery about balancing motherhood, wellness, and building a niche Pilates business on her own terms. They discuss preparing the body for

Key takeaways

• Bryony Deery emphasizes priming the body with Pilates and strength training before pregnancy to create a strong foundation for labor and postpartum recovery.
• She used an EpiNo balloon device to physically stretch and mentally rehearse birth, resulting in no tearing or stitches during delivery.

Main topics

• Motherhood & postpartum wellness
• Pilates & pregnancy prep

Notable quotes

I don't think I ever feel like, oh, I'm managing things so well, but I try and do things that help me.

Conclusion

The episode offers actionable advice for entrepreneurs and parents on bu

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) you Welcome to the Bosticks. Starring Lauren Bostick and Michael Bostick. Together, they are the Bosticks. Speaker 2 (0:14) My very good friend, Bryony Deary is back. Bryony is an author, the founder of Pilates by Bryony, a mother and an entrepreneur. She does it all. Bryony, welcome back to the Bostics. I find the older that I get and the more kids that I have, if someone's mad at me for not being responsive, I don't know that I'm the friend for them. No, I agree. I mean, I've had one baby and I already feel like this. I don't know how Speaker 3 (0:39) you feel after three. It blows my mind that people have more than one child. I'm like, wow. Every time I speak to one of my friends who has more than one child, I'm like, tell me everything. Speaker 2 (0:53) Because it's a wild ride. It's so funny because when you text me that, I was you. I was texting all my friends with three children being like, I don't know how you did this. And when you text me that, I was like laughing because... You and I are so similar. It's the exact feeling that I had. I don't know how you have three. That's crazy. And I would be obsessed with people who had like four or five. Yeah. I was like, this is like fascinating. It's like an exhibit. So I totally get where you're at. You forget. Speaker 3 (1:27) You forget. Speaker 2 (1:28) Okay. And how do you feel Speaker 3 (1:29) with three? I love three. Three is a good number? Or are we doing more? I have to be honest. I feel you Speaker 2 (1:37) may have more. I'm flexible to more. Nice. I told you, if I didn't gain 60 pounds per pregnancy, I would do six. Okay, I love that. I love children. I Speaker 3 (1:53) do see Speaker 2 (1:53) you as Speaker 3 (1:53) a bit of a Christian, like full house, like big family Christmases. So nice. I love it. I Speaker 2 (2:00) love the texture of it. Speaker 3 (2:03) And Speaker 2 (2:03) I think it creates a lot of different dynamics, to your point, as you grow up. Speaker 3 (2:08) And I Speaker 2 (2:09) always picture when Michael and I are like 75 years old and we're out and we're at a restaurant and there's fun music playing, like I picture Speaker 3 (2:17) a big... Happy family. Yeah. And listen, if that Speaker 2 (2:21) capped at three, I would be just fine. But I'm flexible to whatever happens, happens. But we need to talk about you. Here's the thing. Like I said, I gained 60 per kid. Yeah. This situation, I told you I want to strangle you when you walk in. So unfair. I see you pregnant. You're Speaker 3 (2:44) the cutest, sweetest, most beautiful, angelic pregnant person. Okay. My husband would beg to differ, I think, on the angel. No, Speaker 2 (2:53) he Speaker 3 (2:53) wouldn't. Casper. No. And also, I did not feel small at all when I was pregnant. Honestly, and I wasn't. And you know what was so crazy was the cellulite. Oh. on my legs. She probably had one. No, no, I promise you, I had cellulite in my toes. It was crazy. But what I will say is that it changed. It... It did go back to how I was after, I would say, like the three-month mark. I'm not saying my body went back. I'm saying the cellulite because it was crazy during pregnancy for me. You Speaker 2 (3:28) have done, I think, such a good job of building the foundation before you got pregnant with all the fitness that you do. I think you primed your body for it almost. So Speaker 3 (3:39) I got married a month before I got pregnant. So I was in athlete mode. And I feel like when you have a baby, before you have a baby, you need to go into athlete mode. You need to be on your game, on your health game, feeling great. When I say this, I don't mean like 100 % healthy in bed 8pm. I love going out. I love margaritas. I love going out for dinner. I have a very, very balanced life. But I'm just saying the 80%. Just be your healthiest, strongest version. Do the workouts, do the mindset stuff, do all the work in that time. Because it makes Speaker 2 (4:21) such a difference. Speaker 3 (4:21) Where Speaker 2 (4:21) were Speaker 3 (4:21) you with my first Speaker 2 (4:22) baby? That's not Speaker 3 (4:23) what Speaker 2 (4:24) I did. Speaker 3 (4:24) Also, I feel like, well, it gets you into the zone, but you can then continue the workouts when you're pregnant. If you get into the strongest shape of your life pre-pregnancy, then you can continue that. Firstly, you can, unless you have any like medical reason or your doctor says to not exercise, you can continue exercising in the exact same way for your whole first trimester. Obviously, then you make the modifications, but you're strong. You're like, you have such a good foundation. And obviously Pilates is incredible for labor. I can talk about. helping like tools and things for labor. But yeah, it really helped me during my pregnancy. It really helped me postpartum. Why is it incredible for labor? So the way that your body moves, the way that you create alignment when you're pregnant, your body is so out of whack. in terms of hormones, but also in terms of your spine. If you think about how much your stomach is brought forward and you're just in this really crazy shape, like the pressure that is on your spine is insane. So the more Pilates that you can do, the more work on your body as a complete system, the better, the more, um, the better your foundation is. So it's incredible for, um, your mobility during pregnancy, but it's amazing for birth as well. It's so good. And then obviously you have it postpartum. I Speaker 2 (5:53) feel like it also tightens your pelvic floor. Yeah. Oh, a hundred Speaker 3 (5:57) percent. Helps the pushing maybe. Yeah. I mean, I was really lucky. I had a great birth and I think a lot of that is down to luck. And I think a lot of it is down to me kind of like increasing my surface area of luck and doing all the workouts. I was doing workouts the day before I gave birth. I also did the Epinoe. Did you do the Epinoe? No. No one has done the Epinoe. And I'm like, guys, do it. It's so good. I don't know what that is. I feel like a spokesperson for the Epinoe at this point. But it's basically this balloon. You insert it into yourself. You pump it up so the balloon expands. You hold it and you breathe it out. So you literally give birth to a balloon. I did it two weeks before birth. How often are you Speaker 2 (6:43) doing that? Speaker 3 (6:44) every Speaker 2 (6:44) other Speaker 3 (6:45) day and I had no this is TMI but I had no tearing no cutting no stitches nothing I got a little husband stitch nice okay you went in for a bit of an extra little I'm like Speaker 2 (6:57) nip it a little nip Speaker 3 (6:59) tuck I mean I definitely would have done that so you put a balloon Speaker 2 (7:02) up your vagina yeah Speaker 3 (7:04) and you you know it was amazing for obviously like physically preparing for birth stretching yourself But it was very, very effective for the visualization of birth. You were mentally rehearsing birth. That Speaker 2 (7:17) makes so much sense. And I think that's so genius because you're getting yourself to your point in the mindset. Speaker 3 (7:23) Yeah. So it was really weird. I could feel how birth would feel. Obviously, a balloon is very different to a child. But it was that connection to the breath work you had to Speaker 2 (7:34) breathe this balloon out. Hold on. I have a couple questions about this balloon. Speaker 3 (7:38) I'm actually not very woo-woo, I just want to say. I'm a bit more black and white. I can be like a little bit woo-woo, but this makes me sound quite crazy. I'm aware of that. The Speaker 2 (7:48) TikTok that's going to go live that you put a balloon up your vagina and gave birth to it and then said she's not woo-woo is very Bostick's Coden. It's very Bostick's Coden. Welcome Speaker 3 (7:59) to the show. Speaker 2 (8:00) Seriously. Well, I got a balloon and shoved it up. But what is the balloon filled with? Nothing. Hold on. What if the balloon pops in your vagina? Well, I didn't really think of that, but... No. What if it, like, Speaker 3 (8:15) imagine the Speaker 2 (8:16) popping. Speaker 3 (8:16) It's quite robust, this balloon. It's not like a, like a kid's party balloon. Oh, I'm thinking like a, like a. No, no. It's like, so it's attached to a cord. You pump up the cord, the balloon expands, and it's quite a thick balloon. And you kind of like, you know when they say, oh, you're five centimeters dilated. Okay. You create that with the balloon. And each, I was like addicted. I was so competitive with that. I was like, six, Speaker 2 (8:42) yes. And then the next day I go wider, Speaker 3 (8:45) wider, wider. So Speaker 2 (8:45) did the balloon help you get to the point where you were ready to give birth? Speaker 3 (8:50) Well, no, it helped prepare my body for birth. It didn't like bring on birth. Got it. So it just stretched me essentially. But what if it does pop? I mean, I guess they're quite tested. Okay. All right. It's thick. I'll try anything. I don't think it would ever. And also if it popped, then it's fine. It's just air. You don't think it would hurt? Maybe, but I mean, it didn't feel great. Thank God it didn't pop. Speaker 2 (9:17) Thank God. And you can only use a balloon to do this. You can't use other things. Yeah, Speaker 3 (9:21) don't try other things at home. Speaker 2 (9:23) My mind's going to a hundred other things. Please don't experiment. Just a balloon. Speaker 3 (9:29) Just the balloon. And it's called the EpiNo, which means... No episiotomy, which is no tearing, no cutting. So Speaker 2 (9:36) it prepares you to not have the tearing. Speaker 3 (9:39) Not Speaker 2 (9:39) tearing, Speaker 3 (9:39) yeah. That's actually very genius. Speaker 2 (9:41) Because I was, Speaker 3 (9:42) and also, so it did prepare me for that, but it definitely, I am obsessed by visualization and mentally rehearsing all the things. And that really helped me. Speaker 2 (9:52) You visualized a lot with what you're doing. I know that about you. Like, I just feel the energy. I see your Instagram. I know that just personally about you. When you visualized your birth, did you visualize a strong, beautiful, like what were your points that you were going to? Speaker 3 (10:10) I was, it wasn't kind of like this airy, fairy, magical thing. It was more like I'm in the zone. I'm in control. I'm calm. I can do this. I'm confident in my body. And at the same time, I was listening. I know you love Louise Hay as well. I was listening to Louise Hay affirmations. I didn't have a music playlist. I just had Louise Hay affirmations. Oh, great. So it was all as well. I can do this. I'm in control of my body. So it was like me stepping into my confidence, basically, and familiarizing myself with the situation to make me feel more calm inside. Epidural or no epidural? Epidural. But I had a small dose. of the epidural. So I wanted to feel my contractions because I have another theory. Okay. Which is if you cannot at all feel your contractions, you don't know when to push. So if you're just pushing, pushing, pushing, you're missing potentially the moments where you should push. So then you're pushing more and more. So then maybe you tear. Totally agree with that. So I had a little bit of an epidural, which was. quite a crazy experience, but I felt my contraction so I could breathe with the contraction. I was pushing that Speaker 2 (11:22) epidural pen like you've never seen anyone push it. They would walk away. I was like, how many times can I press this button? It's wild, isn't Speaker 3 (11:29) it? Speaker 2 (11:29) I was pressing it and pressing it and pressing it. I think I pressed it too much. Yeah. Speaker 1 (11:33) I think I pressed Speaker 2 (11:35) it until it was out. It is quite insane. Listen, I feel like I'm such an intense person. That I am either like, let's do no epidural. If you had that balloon, it would for sure pop because Speaker 3 (11:47) you'd be like pumping it up. Speaker 3 (11:51) Imagine. That's the problem. Yeah, you would have to be like. Too intense. Yeah. It's Speaker 2 (11:55) like I don't know. Speaker 3 (11:57) I Speaker 2 (11:58) don't know when to stop. The balloon might pop. That's why I think I asked that question. Now that you're a mother. Yes. What has that been like on the other side of what you thought it would be to what it actually is? Okay, so first Speaker 3 (12:12) thing, I am so obsessed by my little girl. She is just like, she is just joy. She's so cute. Honestly, she's smiling and pure. She's constantly smiling. Like, she's the easiest. little thing to make smile. Everyone makes her smile. She's so cute. So I love being her mom. And it's, it is amazing being a mom. I really feel that. I will say it's a wild ride hormonally that I underestimated. And right now, and hopefully this is a tip if anyone's feeling anything like slightly off postpartum. For me, it's a week before I ovulate. No, sorry. A week before my period is when I feel anxious. So that's been since having a baby. So I did blood tests and then someone told me to do a Dutch test. So I did a Dutch test. Have you heard of that? Speaker 2 (13:06) So Speaker 3 (13:07) blood tests can be quite hit or miss because it depends where you are in your cycle and all these things. If you do a Dutch test, you pee on a stick five times over the course of 24 hours when you're at a certain point in your cycle. So that the reading is very clear. So it told me all these crazy things. Is it a pee test or Speaker 2 (13:27) a blood test that you do after you pee on the stick? Speaker 3 (13:30) Like your pee? Oh, so you would, you would complement it with a blood test because the more information they have, the Speaker 2 (13:35) better. Speaker 3 (13:35) I thought you were going to say I could Speaker 2 (13:36) do a pee test instead of a blood test. Speaker 3 (13:38) No, it's, it's Speaker 2 (13:40) more comprehensive on the pee test. But you use the pee test to find out when to take the blood test? No, no. Speaker 3 (13:46) No, Speaker 2 (13:47) you don't Speaker 3 (13:47) have to do a blood test if you don't want to. I Speaker 2 (13:49) don't. Speaker 3 (13:49) But like, for example, if you wanted to test your thyroid, you could go in deeper on the blood test. But the Dutch test shows you all your hormones. It's so in-depth. Just by peeing? Yeah. Oh my God, I got to do that. I hate blood so much. It's really interesting. And I feel like it will help people, hopefully. So you took that test and what happened? So I took that test and then I did a consultation with a doctor and then they will subscribe me. different supplements based on my specific thing. And has it helped? So I'm just kind of at the beginning stage of it, but I mean, it should. I'm trying everything. So I'll report back, but I definitely feel that that is, that makes sense to me to do that. Speaker 2 (14:32) You know what's made the biggest difference in my postpartum recovery besides lifting weights? What? Cranial sacral. Speaker 3 (14:38) Oh, I've heard you speak about this. I'm so into it. I love that. If you get Speaker 2 (14:42) anxious before your period, Speaker 3 (14:44) also Speaker 2 (14:44) try cranial sacral. Speaker 3 (14:46) Okay. And the baby. Speaker 2 (14:48) Oh, yeah. So good for the babies. Oh, I love all those things for the babies. See if they do it where you guys are bouncing around. But see if they do it where Speaker 3 (14:57) you guys are. I'm sure they do. 100 % do. It's quite a Spanish thing, I think. It's so amazing for the baby. I love, I give her a massage every day and Speaker 2 (15:07) she's all over it with coconut oil. She's so cute. I feel like her and Bond need to meet immediately. I know. Elle and Bond. How Speaker 3 (15:14) cute. Speaker 2 (15:16) Elle Bostic. That has a ring. A St. Bart's. 2058. Whatever the fuck. Whenever we get around to it. We need to do a St. Bart's trip immediately. We really do. We need to bring the kids and we need to have a whole party. Yeah, Speaker 3 (15:31) that would be Speaker 2 (15:31) so nice. And Casper can drink his six espressos. Yeah. Back to back, double. Yeah, we can have a full party. Yeah. So after having a baby, you mentioned one more. Is that? Yes. Speaker 3 (15:42) Yes? I do think, I mean, that Casper's like, whoa. we literally just had our first, let's just take a minute. But I think naturally women plan and they feel like, okay, you know, like having a career and having your own business, you do kind of, and for me, I'm teaching every day. I'm filming classes. I'm doing all these things. So it is a bit of a planning, scheduling thing. So I would love to, because I just. love Elle so much and I feel like if having a sibling would make her life happier and better then I would not want to not give her that if that makes sense. Makes sense. But it's not because I'm like oh I want more of Elle. I'm very happy with Elle. It's more because I love her so much I want her to have the best and of course then if I have a second baby I'll be completely madly in love with that baby. Speaker 2 (16:32) Yes you will. I Speaker 3 (16:33) know. Speaker 2 (16:34) Everyone's like I don't know how it's each one is unique. Yeah. But also, I heard someone talking about this the other day. Like, if you have one and you're happy with one, I think you could just... Some people Speaker 3 (16:45) have no Speaker 2 (16:46) kids. I like the Speaker 3 (16:47) idea of a big age gap as well. I think that that's quite nice. There's a lot of... Everyone should just do their Speaker 2 (16:53) thing. Totally could not agree more. It's just... There's this theory. I forgot what it's called. Maybe someone can tell me about it. Where it's, you see a recipe for chicken soup on Instagram. and you look at the comments and people are like well what if you're vegetarian well what if you don't like salt well what if you're gluten free and this has gluten in it Not everything is for everyone. Yeah, I agree with that. Like, it's just chicken soup. And it's not for children. Speaker 3 (17:24) Like, all the wellness things, it's overwhelming for most people. Like, all of the 5 a.m., the red light, the this, the that, it's too much. And I think, actually, we need to strip everything back and focus on the fundamentals. I Speaker 2 (17:41) also think certain things work better for certain people. I have to put my eyes in the sun when I wake up. Yeah, I love that. I just do. My body craves it. I agree. It feels good. I don't want to look at my phone first thing in the morning. That's something that's like, no matter where I am in the world, I want to go outside and put my eyes in the sun. Yeah, I agree. Someone else might not feel like that. Yeah. Speaker 3 (18:07) They might want Speaker 2 (18:08) to wake up and scroll Instagram and like to each its own. Yeah. I think Speaker 3 (18:12) flexibility is a really important thing. I agree. And I also think that with wellness, like I've often find that we try to run before we can walk, but the basics are what we're missing. So maybe there's someone that's not sleeping very well or not getting, you know, sunlight in their eyes in the morning or. all of these or actually having social interaction that's a big thing right now like no one's socializing no one goes out well we are tomorrow we are we for sure i can't wait but i just think that no one goes out anymore and that's so sad and there's this like missing piece to wellness these days i sound like i'm like a 85 year old grandma i agree but i do feel that there's this movement towards like And it's partly like the no drinking thing, which doesn't bother me at all. Like if you don't want to drink, I don't think you should drink. But I think it's causing people to stay in as like an alternative. Whereas actually, I think it's so important to have social connection and in real life connection. I Speaker 2 (19:21) agree with you. And I think it's interesting for me as an interviewer because I get to interview all different ages from 20 all the way to 80. Yeah. And you can tell when you speak to a 20-year-old, especially early 20s, that they have spent a lot of time with the phone in their